Electronic device and control method

Abstract

A mobile phone includes a communication module for establishing a master-slave relationship with another electronic device to perform communication. The mobile phone determines a carrying state and performs control related to the master-slave relationship of the communication module based on a determination result of the carrying state. By this configuration, the mobile phone can improve user's convenience with respect to the use modes of electronic devices between which the master-slave relationship is established. For example, when it is determined that the carrying state is a carried state, the mobile phone may make the communication module subordinate to the other electronic device.

The invention claimed is: 
     
       1. An electronic device comprising:
 a first communication device for establishing a master-slave relationship with another electronic device to perform communication; 
 a second communication device for performing communication via a public network; 
 an informing device; and 
 a controller for determining a carrying state and performing control related to the master-slave relationship of the first communication device based on a determination result of the carrying state, 
 wherein, in response to an incoming communication received by the second communication device, the controller is configured to
 in a master mode, cause the first communication device to notify said another electronic device of the incoming communication, and 
 in a slave mode, cause the informing device to perform notification about the incoming communication on said electronic device. 
 
 
     
     
       2. The electronic device according to  claim 1 , wherein,
 when it is determined that the carrying state is a carried state,
 the controller is configured to make the first communication device subordinate to said another electronic device. 
 
 
     
     
       3. The electronic device according to  claim 1 ,
 wherein 
 the controller is configured to perform, based on the determination result of the carrying state, control related to settings of a manner mode in which the incoming communication received by the second communication device is notified without outputting sound from the informing device. 
 
     
     
       4. The electronic device according to  claim 1 , wherein,
 the controller is configured to determine the carrying state in response to receipt of the incoming communication via the second communication device. 
 
     
     
       5. The electronic device according to  claim 1 , wherein
 in response to the incoming communication received by the second communication device when said electronic device is in the master mode and it is determined that the carrying state is a carried state, the controller is configured to perform a mode change processing to change said electronic device from the master mode to the slave mode, and 
 in response to the incoming communication received by the second communication device when said electronic device is in the slave mode and it is determined that the carrying state is not a carried state, the controller is configured to perform a mode change processing to change said electronic device from the slave mode to the master mode. 
 
     
     
       6. The electronic device according to  claim 1 , wherein
 the first communication device is configured to perform two-way communication with said another electronic device through a short-distance wireless communication. 
 
     
     
       7. The electronic device according to  claim 1 , wherein
 the incoming communication includes an email or an SMS (Short Message Service) message. 
 
     
     
       8. A control method for an electronic device including a first communication device, a second communication device and an informing device, the control method comprising:
 establishing, in the first communication device, a master-slave relationship with another electronic device to perform communication; 
 determining a carrying state and performing control related to the master-slave relationship of the first communication device based on a determination result of the carrying state; and 
 in response to an incoming communication received by the second communication device,
 in a master mode, causing the first communication device to notify said another electronic device of the incoming communication, and 
 in a slave mode, causing the informing device to perform notification about the incoming communication on said electronic device.